Vasishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and
Bharadvaja.
In the later epics and Puranas, or mythical
lore, rishis inhabited ASHRAMS or retreat places in
the wilderness, where they performed their aus-
terities. These rishis were sages, not necessarily
connected with the transmission of the Vedas.
Some of them were composers or compilers of
the epics, such as the rishi VALMIKI who compiled
the RAMAYANA, and the rishi VYA S A who gave us
the MAHABHARATA. The rishis encountered in this
later literature often are known for the frighten-
ing curses they imposed upon those who had not
treated them with due deference and respect.
Rishi today is an honorific term, for instance,
in the case of MAHARISHI (great rishi) Mahesh Yogi,
who founded the TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION
movement. Few such people today are considered
comparable to the great rishis of the past.
See also SAPTA RISHI.
Further reading: John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary
of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and
Literature, 12th ed. (Ludhiana: Lyall Book Depot, 1974);
John E. Mitchiner, Traditions of the Seven Rsis (Delhi:
Motilal Banarsidass, 1982); C. Sivaramamurti, Rishis in
Indian Art and Literature (New Delhi: Kanak, 1981).
Rishikesh
Rishikesh (the RISHI’s hair, or possibly a corrup-
tion of, Hrishikesha, an epithet of ARJUNA) is an
important Indian PILGRIMAGE center. Many SWAMIS
taught or lived there, including SWA M I SHIVANANDA
and the MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI, who founded the
TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION movement.
Rishkesh lies in northern Uttar Pradesh in the
foothills of the HIMALAYAS, on the GANGES. At the
Triveni Ghat, the steps down to the Ganges, many
offerings are made and ablutions done, for the
Ganges is the purest of rivers, and at Rishikesh
its water is very cold and fast. At sunset there is a
custom there of setting little lamps adrift on the
Ganges in worship to Ganga Devi, the river GOD-
DESS. Rishikesh is filled at all times with swamis,
SADHUS, mendicants, and peregrinating pilgrims
who seek this holy shrine for purification and
devotion. Rishikesh is not far from HARIDVAR and
is a waystation for pilgrims going farther up the
Himalayas to BADRINATH.Further reading: Augusthy Keemattam, The Hermits
of Rishikesh: A Sociological Study (New Delhi: Inter-
cultural, 1997); Reeta Khullar and Rupinder Khullar,
Gateway to the Gods: Haridwar, Rishikesh, Yamunotri,
Gangotri-Kedarnath-Badrinath (Dehradun: Uttaranchal
Tourism and UBS Publisher’s Distributors, 2004).rita
Rita is a VEDIC concept that means “cosmic order.”
VARUNA was most specifically charged with its
maintenance, but many other gods such as AGNI
and INDRA were sometimes also said to maintain
rita. It was understood that the Vedic rituals
were necessary to maintain the cosmic order. In
fact the greatest of the ancient Vedic rituals, the
AGNICHAYANA, or fire ritual, was seen to re-create
the entire cosmic order each year. The concept of
rita is most important as a precursor to the notion
of DHARMA, although the latter was extended into
social law and social organization as well.Further reading: Madhu Khanna, ed., Rita, the Cosmic
Order (New Delhi: D. K. Printworld in association with
the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, 2004);
Jeanine Miller, The Vision of the Cosmic Order in the
Vedas (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985).Roerich, Nicholas and Helena See AGNI
YOGA SOCIETY.Roy, Raja Rammohun (1772–1833) founder
of Brahmo Samaj
Rammohun Roy was a central figure in the
Bengal Renaissance of the late 19th century andRoy, Raja Rammohun 367 J